Another day at home alone because of Covid-19.

Today, March 27, was sunshine-filled, and I wanted to get out and do something outdoors. We have had rain, rain and more rain lately. It was a day for hiking, gardening and doing any kind of work outside. But I did not work outside.

Yesterday was a Computer Day.
I worked almost all day at my desk. And, I paid for it last night. Sitting too much or too long causes me such pain it is hard to sleep even after doing the stretches and exercises I am supposed to do. I need physical therapy, but can’t go now.

I have six students in my virtual writing class. I edit their work and give them instructions and comments that I hope they read and learn from. As the class proceeds, I can see what each student needs most. So they receive individual help according to what I see in their work.  We have a couple who are early beginners, and some who are about ready to publish. All of them continue to learn in my class. They are working on using dialogue in their stories, true and fictional. They are learning to use dialogue to show characterization. It is fun and interesting to read the great stories by these adult students.

I knew I had to get away from the computer, so today I cooked.

I decided to make something I could eat on for several days and use what I had in my house. One of my favorite dishes is my New Year’s Eve Black-Eyed peas. Using dried peas, I bring them to a boil for two minutes, soak them for about two hours, drain them and put them in my crock pot. Cover all with half chicken broth and half water. I add a chopped onion, half a green pepper, garlic, salt and pepper and cook until the peas are soft. 

I have been thinking for several days that I wished I had some Brunswick stew, a mix of meats, tomatoes, and vegetables. I didn’t have the canned meat on hand, so I ordered one half pound of cooked chopped pork and a half barbecued chicken from Rib Country, a great Bar-B-Q restaurant. They are now offering take out, so I called in my order and about fifteen minutes later picked it up without leaving my car. (I sanitized everything before taking inside)

I had enough pork to make a sandwich and still have plenty left. Soooo good! I love barbecue pork sandwiches. 

Next I gathered what I could find that would complete my dish. I had two cans of chopped tomatoes, an onion, catsup, barbecue sauce that came with the meat, Worcester sauce, and Tabasco sauce. I didn’t have any canned corn which the recipe calls for, but I had frozen corn. I poured out about a half cup, thawed it in the microwave, and found left over lima beans in my fridge. All of it went into the stew and boy, is it good! Lexie smelled it cooking and began begging for a bowl. Naturally, I shared with her.

This set me to thinking about my mother when I was a little girl. She did not have easy access to a super market like we have today. She bought groceries once a week at the local store, but she could always create a good meal from what she had in the kitchen. She made biscuits or cornbread for every meal. We always had eggs and milk because we lived on a farm. At times she would make gravy with eggs when she didn’t have enough for each of us to have one. The gravy over those wonderful hot biscuits along with some bacon or sausage was more than enough to fill the stomachs of her children and make everyone happy.

Perhaps at times like these when we can’t always have what we take for granted, it is good to see if we can do with less. I am going to try to make my last two rolls of paper towels last twice as long as I have in the past. Mother didn’t even have paper towels when I was a kid. I am going back to the old cookbooks from the early sixties when casseroles were in fashion. Those recipes were delicious and only called for few items.

I am ashamed that I am often wasteful, especially with paper goods. When I think of countries where people have no running water, no stove, and no bathroom, I want to cry. 

At this time, maybe we all can be more mindful of doing with what we have. We can do it. I know I can. But I will be very happy when this crisis is behind us and things are back to normal again. I wonder, will our normal ever be the same?

Brunswick Stew enhanced by turtle

Today was a rainy day and I love rainy days now. They comfort me and fit my mood. I felt much better than yesterday and decided to cook this afternoon. I was in the mood for old fashioned cooking, not the fat-free, processed food we buy now for convenience. I cooked fresh green beans with a ham hock to flaver them. I baked two sweet potatoes and they perfumed my whole house with a familiar and friendly aroma. While I was feeling so well, I put a beef stew to cooking in my crockpot.
I have a wonderful collection of old cookbooks from back in the sixties and seventies. I pulled out a stained and worn copy of one called Cook and Tell, published by the Noweta Garden Club of Cedartown, Georgia. On the inside back cover I recognized my mother's handwriting. Lois Robison Council, 1970, bought from Joyce Hancock Barbre.
Joyce was a childhood friend of mine and she remained my friend until her death a few years ago. At one time she lived in Cedartown with her husband Bill.
This cookbook is priceless to me, as are some others I've kept all these years. These recipes are made from scratch. Not weird ingredients I can't pronouce. One page has six recipes for squash casserole and I'm sure every one of them is delicious.
I make brunswick stew and love to eat it. Mrs. Harold W. Wyatt, Sr. submitted a recipe for brunswick stew as made by M.D. Russell, copied from an old recipe, last dated 1933. The recipe makes ten gallons and begins with 6 large hens and 10 pounds of ground beef. Fifteen more ingredients follow.The stew cooks for 12 hours. I was espicially intrigued with the final note in parenthesis (Turtle meat adds to flavor if fresh turtle can be had)